I'm so, so grateful that someone has written with sense and compassion for the plight of the Palestinians. I've been so distraught with grief and rage, not only over the massacre that Israel's carrying out, but at just how f*cking sanguine everyone in the media seems to be about insane military attacks that should never have been dreamt of, let alone allowed. I guess the victims are just a bit too dark and muslim to be considered as fully paid-up members of the human race.

Israel's actions are unforgiveable. I just wish the world would take off its blinkers and see the truth. I've long been frustrated and bewildered over the impunity with which Israel's allowed to behave like fascists, and Kamiya has spelled out so clearly the reasons behind it and also the implications. I just wish this article would be published in the British press, who are currently letting the Israelis get away with murder. And that effing poodle and war criminal Tony Bliar is now -! the Middle East peace envoy!! Oy ye! And appears on the BBC spouting a heap of trite BS.

Ah, who is there to trust anymore? All the gods have fallen on their arses. Maybe organised world-wide anarchy is the answer.

Your M.D. obviously stands for Much Denseness.

Why do people list their qualifications after their names? Do they think it will lend credibility to weak arguments? Obviously betrays an insecurity. After all, I'm not armed and harmless, PhD, Though I am. But who gives a duck's f*ck?

off to bed, it's 4.37 am in London. I couldn't sleep over the rage and pain I was feeling over the Israeli Gaza massacres, but thanks to Kamiya's article, and reading the responses from readers who can also see the madness - hurrah, there are decent people in the world! -I can attempt to sleep now.

Israel has forbidden any foreign journalists into Gaza, so that they themselves could solely control the media campaign and propaganda, and not allow the truth of what's happening to be seen around the world. According to the UN spokesperson, there were no Hamas militants firing or sheltering in the UN compound that the Israelis so mercilessly attacked. Of course the Israelis would have you believe otherwise. There are, conveniently for Israel, no independent journalists to report the truth. And they refuse to entertain the possibility of having an independent inquiry into what happened - now there's a surprise, something to hide possibly?

@cabdriver, ah, ok so she's really a doctor, posting about medical matters... wow, I feel sorry for her patients. And I did address the contents of her posts. "Much denseness" about covers the propagandist crap.

You're trying too hard. A meaningful life doesn't just happen by command or from careful planning. It's much more elusive than that. You might try treading more lightly, and take the whole thing a bit less seriously.

I'm nearly 50, and I'm only just starting to begin to catch a glimpse of where I might comfortably fit, and it's a niche, or more accurately, several niches, that I've had to construct myself. Because I fit nowhere, and I really know just how much it sucks to be existentially rootless, homeless, floating in space like a visiting alien. So lonely. I always felt that the universe had no place reserved for me.

I succeeded in constructing my 'niches' through trying to be kind to myself, and understand where I'm coming from, allow myself to follow my passions and obsessions, and make loads of mistakes and tread water for a long time. Then a whole load of seemingly disparate threads started, very slowly, to weave themselves into useable shapes. Of course when you're young you reckon it should all just kind of magically fall into place if you put in some effort, but unfortunately some of us truly are made of alien stuff. It takes a lot longer to find our place. In the meantime, take as much pleasure as you can in the journey, do things you enjoy.

Seems to me like you're too much in your head, and you've left the rest of yourself out of the equation. What about your heart, your soul, your guts, your body. You don't mention your passions. What are they? What makes you come alive? What do you love? Who do you love? What do you hate? Who do you hate? What do you truly want? Figure that out and go for it! Even if it seems dumb and not worth bothering about, just don't listen to those voices. It's a start.

You need a bit of pragmatism in that you do need a source of income. Even if for a long time you can't enjoy the jobs that you do, know that it all contributes to the piece of work that is your life, none of it will be wasted.

Meantime, maybe anti-depressants will help. Or try the Findhorn Flower Essences. Or the Australian Bush Flower essences. They're powerful. I wish you lots of love and luck.

Awww shucks was it that bad? well ok a great deal of my life has been pure and utter torture, but I enjoyed the chocolate (green & black's dark milk chocolate is especially good). It's always been torture/nice chocolate.....torture/gorgeous full moon.......torture/great book....

And by the way, re my previous post, I only mentioned 'who do you hate? in order for you to understand yourself and get in touch with your emotions, not recommending you do someone an injury...